Rat guard for ship cables



March 11 1924.

S. CHEELY RAT GUARD FOR SHIP CABLES Filed May 13, 1922 INVEN TOR.

Samuel Ch ely.

Z m .7 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 11, 1924.

SAJSEUEL CHEELY, OF LODI, CALIFORNIA.

RAT GUARD FOR SHIP CABLES.

Application filed May 13, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL CHEELY, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Lodi, county of San Joaquin, and State of California, haveinvented a new and useful Rat Guard for Ship Gables, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a device adapted to be clamped on the cable ormooring line of a ship so as to prevent the passage of rats to or fromthe ship while the latter is moored to a wharf.

, An object of the invention is to provide an effective rat guard whichmay be easily and quickly clamped on the cable and held thereon with afirm grip.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rat guard of thecharacter described which may be used on cables of different thicknessesand on cables which have been doubled.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of my invention which is illustratedin the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. Itis to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made bythe said drawingsand description, as I may adopt variations of thepreferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in theclaims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of the guard.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Briefly expressed the device in its present embodiment comprises a pairof segmental plates pivotally connected together at one end, andprovided adjacent their centers with resilient engaging members whichare arranged to grip the opposite sides of the cable. The plates areformed so as to overlap one another when the device is positioned oncable. Means are provided for drawing the plates together and holdingthem tightly clamped on the cable.

A detailed description follows:

The rat guard as illustrated comprises a pair of fiat segmental plates 1and 5 each preferably formed larger than a semi-circle. Suitably fixedto each of the plates such as by rivets 6 are flanges 7 and 8 having ex-Serial No. 560,706.

tensions 9 and 10 extending axially from each side of the plates. Theextensions 9 and 10 are provided with dove-tail grooves 12 in which areheld similarly formed ribs 14: of liners 16 and 17. The liners arepreferably formed of a resilient packing material and are more or lesscrescent shaped in cross-section so as to fit on the opposite sides ofthe mooring line or cable 18.

The plates are pivoted together adjacent one end thereof by means of thepivot pin 19 which extends through ears 21 formed on the flanges 7 and8. In this manner the plates may be easily separated and placed aroundthe cable.

Means are provided for drawing the plates together after they are placedon the cable. Fulcrumed on one of the plate flanges 10 is lever 22, onearm 23 of which is provided with a pin 24: which is arranged to engagein one of the links 26 of the chain 4 27 which is secured to the otherflange 9. The other arm 28 of the lever is in the form of a handle,which when moved in the proper direction causes the plates to movetoward each other. Means are also asso ciated with the foregoing fortightly clamping the plates together and thereby holding them firmlypositioned on the cable. As here shown said means comprises a segmentalrack 29 which is formed on the flange 9 and is adapted to be engaged bya dog 31 projecting from the arm 28 of the lever 22. The connectionbetween the plates is such as to permit of a slight flexible movementtherebetween, so that the dog may be readily moved over the rack teethwhen arm 28 of the lever is slightly elevated.

To apply the guard on the line or cable the operation is as follows:

The plates are opened and slipped over the cable. The pin 24: is thenplaced in one of the links, the link chosen being of course dependent onthe thickness of the cable or cables upon which the guard is to bepositioned. The lever handle is then moved in the proper directionwhereby the plates will be drawn toward each other and the liners 16 and17 will be pressed firmly against the opposite sides of the cable. Afterthe plates are drawn together as far as possible, they are held clampedin this position by the engagement of the dog with the rack. Aspreviously each of the plates comprises a segment in excess of 180. Inthis manner the ends of the plates will overlap each other when drawntogether, practically regardless of the size of the cable.

It will thus be clear that when the device is properly clamped on thecable the rats will find it impossible to pass over or through theguard.

It is obvious that to remove the guard it is merely necessary to elevatethe lever handle and then move it to release the grip of the liners. Thepin 24'may then be disengaged from chain and the plates openedsufficient to fully release the guard from the cable.

I claim:

1. A rat guard for ship cables or the like, comprising a pair of discsegments pivoted together at one end, flanges extending axially fromsaid segments, a lever fulcrumed on one of said segments, a swingingmember secured to the other of said segments and adapted to beadjustably and removably attached to the end of said lever whereby uponthe oscillation of said lever the pairs of segments with theirassociated flanges and liners Will be drawn together on said cable, andmeans for clamping the segments in said latter position.

2. A rat guard for ship cables or the like, comprising a pair of discsegments pivoted together at one end and capable of overlapping eachother When drawn together, flanges extending transversely from each sideof said segments adjacent the inner edges thereof, a lever fulcrumed ononevof saidsegments, a chain fixed to the other of said segments adaptedto be removably and adjustably secured to one arm of said lever, ahandle formed on the other arm of said lever, a ratchet fixed on saidlast mentioned segment, and means on said last mentioned arm adapted toengage in said ratchet whereby saidsegments and their associated flangesand liners Will be clamped tightly on said cable.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at'Lodi, California,this 2nd dayof May, 1922.

SAMUEL CHEELY.

